New Bedford school chief to share high school plan with parents

NEW BEDFORD — Superintendent Pia Durkin is inviting parents to a pair of meetings to talk about her turnaround plan for New Bedford High School.

NEW BEDFORD — Superintendent Pia Durkin is inviting parents to a pair of meetings to talk about her turnaround plan for New Bedford High School.

The meetings are scheduled at 2:30 p.m., Thursday and 6 p.m., Monday at the high school's Family Engagement Center.

The high school recently was declared Level 4, or “underperforming,” on the state's five-tier evaluation scale and is entering a three-year process in which it must show substantial, sustained progress or risk being placed in state receivership. To accomplish that goal, Durkin has put together a turnaround plan that calls for replacing the school administration and 50 percent of staff. Interested teachers have been asked to reapply for their positions.

At the most recent School Committee meeting earlier this month, Durkin announced an agreement with the New Bedford Education Association that would extend the school day at the high school by 33 minutes. She also praised the work of the New Bedford High School Redesign Team, a group of 16 high school teachers who have volunteered to help spearhead the redesign of the high school.

During that meeting, Durkin looked directly into the television camera and said to parents: “I very much would like to meet with you to talk to you about the future of New Bedford High School.

“Our success depends on everyone at every level working together toward common goals,” she continued. “That means we need parents to be partners alongside teachers, administrators, and indeed, students themselves.”

Durkin said translators will be present to assist those who speak Spanish, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole languages.

The superintendent previously has conducted similar meetings with high school students.